Every April, the city of Bordeaux, in France, transforms itself into a place of artistic exploration as the Month of Photography takes center stage. And what better way to showcase the region than with a photo commission? Following in the footsteps of DATAR, which in launched a photographic commission to document the development of French regions through images captured by professional photographers, curator Gilles Mora decided to celebrate Nouvelle-Aquitaine through a photographic lens.
This time, the 9 artists were not given carte blanche: they were guided by a scientific committee — made up of experts in geography, sociology and urban planning — who defined the themes to be explored. Based in Bordeaux, the photographer focused on the Bidasoa, the coastal river in the Basque country that marks the border between France and Spain. Using a dialogue between landscapes and portraits, she gives a voice to the people who cross this border in the hope of a better life.
Maitetxu Etcheverria is not alone in highlighting these often marginalized voices. Bruno Serralongue has taken up a subject often neglected by the mainstream media.
Reporting on a committed approach, he plunged into the heart of learning communities: circles of amateurs and enthusiasts who come together to share knowledge, skills and experiences in diverse fields such as the environment, crafts and culture. More than just showcasing the region, his work provokes critical reflection in a context of increasing globalization. While each artist has dealt with his or her subject by surveying a major region of New Aquitaine, the one who has traveled the furthest is undoubtedly Hicham Gardaf.
Based in London, he embarked on a journey along coastal and border roads, capturing the very essence of the New Aquitaine landscape. The exhibition explores a variety of artistic media, from photography to video to installations, offering artists the opportunity to express their creativity through different formats. Some have chosen innovative approaches to highlight the often little-known realities of the region. The artist, of Franco-German origin, was born in Bordeaux and has lived in Vienna for the past 25 years.
